Digital Certificate Authorities

A certificate authority (CA) is a trusted third-party organization or company that issues digital certificates used to create digital signatures and encryption keys. The role of the CA in this process is to guarantee the identity of the party granted the certificate. Usually, this means that the CA has an arrangement with a financial institution that provides information to validate the grantee's identity.

To install digital certificates for secure messaging, you must select a CA from whom to obtain the certificates. There are many CAs to choose from, and most of them do business on the World Wide Web. Some of the best known are:

• Verisign, Inc.

• Entrust Technologies.

• Baltimore Technologies.

• Thawte.

There are also numerous lesser known CAs, which might be appropriate if they are well known in a particular geographical region or industry. One of the systems participating in a secure integration might even serve as CA for the other participants. Each CA provides a unique set of security services and has its own way of handling digital certificates.

Before you implement secure messaging with PeopleSoft Integration Broker, investigate the available CAs, select one or more from whom you will obtain digital certificates, and familiarize yourself with their policies and procedures.